Process of coating metals



March 6, 1928.

. w. H. LEGATE PROCESS OF COATING METALS Filed April 23. 1926 /m /770/ Q W4 Patented Mar. 6, I928.

UNITED STATES PATENT v OFFICE.

WILLIAM may LEGATE, or wns'r naarroan, oonnncrrcur, assrenon or onnnan-r0 nnwm n. seen, or mnrronn, commcrreur.

rnocnss or coarme mamas.

Application filed April 23, 1926. Serial No. 104,219.

My invention relates to processes for applying finishing surfaces of metal of various 0 kinds to articles, and an object of my invention, among others, is the production of a process by means of which a coating material of increased thickness may be applied to portions of articles in a particularly rapid and efiicient manner.

One way of practicing my improved process and in the carrying into effect of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a face view of a spoon blank in its flat form and having a shield applied thereto as one of the steps in the practice of my improved process.

. Figure 2 is a view in section through the same illustrating the manner of applying a flux, as well as a deposit of metal.

Figure 3 is a View of the spoon after having been shaped and prior to the deposit of the covering coating of metal thereon.

Fi ure 4 1s a view of the finished spoon.

Wl iile my invention is particularly adapted to the process of applying a finished surface to flatware, such as spoons, forks and the like, it will be understood that it may be eqllllally well applied to the formation of 0t er articles or devices where a deposit of metal, as in the form of letters or ornamentation, is desired, and, therefore, while I have selected a spoon as an article in connection with which my invention is disclosed herein, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to such.

In finishing articles of tableware, such as spoons, forks and the like, an extra thickness or deposit of precious metal is applied to those portions of the article subject to the greatest wear, as to the outside of the bottom of the bowl, and the curved part near the tip of the handle. This has been applied in various ways that has required more or less labor, and expense.

By the practice of my improved process I am enabled to obtain this extra thickness of metal in an extremely simple and inexpens1ve manner.

V In practicing my improved process an article, as a spoon or fork, commonl composed of German silver, is taken in its flat state, and is properly treated to lace its surface in required condition for t e subsequent operations. I then place a shield, as

6, upon this blank 5, this being substantially f tie shape of the article being operated upon, but of a size to thoroughly cover it. This shield has an opening 7 located at that part corresponding to the bottom of the bowl, an opening 8 at that part corresponding to'the curve near the tip of the handle. The shield is cut off at that part corresponding with the point of the bowl of the spoon so that when the shield is placed in position the parts mentioned are uncovered.

A flux of any com etent kind is now introduced through sai openings and at the vacant spot 9 at the tip. In a preferred manner of applying this flux I use a nozzle, as 10, by means of which the flux is sprayed through the openings. This flux will be such as to cause a metal subsequently applied to adhere tenaciously to the article being treated.

* After the flux has been applied a layer of metal, as. sterling, silver, is introduced through the openings in the shield, and this may be applied as by spraying the molten silver through the openings, or in any other desired manner, upon the -flux previously applied, the thickness of the coating of silver or other metal thus appilliled de ending in a measure upon the the es of the shield, that is, the thickness of the metal will not be greater than that of the shield. It will be understood that the shield is preferably constructed 'of some material, as asbestos, that will not be injuriously affected by the heat.

After the coating of silver or other metal has been applied and affixed to the blank, as denoted by the numerals 11, 12 and 13, said blank is formed into final shape, as by means of the action of a drop press, or other device thereby producing the article 14', as shown in Figure 3. Thls article is now suitably finished, as b polishing, bufling, &c., and then it is rea y for plating in the ordinary manner, and after such plating has been applied there will be an extra thickness of t e precious metal at the outer surface of the bottom of the bowl, at the tip of the bowl, and at the oint near the tip of the handle, the article s own in Figure 4 being the final result of the various operations.

While I have described herein the o eration of supplying the difi'erent'materla to the blank at certain with respect to the formation of the latter, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the application of the plating materials at apyngesignated stage in the formation of the While many well known kinds of flux will serve the purpose of causing the silver to adhere to the blank, among several I have found to satisfactorily answer the purpose is one composed of salammoniac and sulphate of zinc in the proportions of twentyounces of the former to eight pwts. of the latter.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the process and device which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative and that the process ma be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those ahoveset out.

I claim- 1. In the art of plating, the process for plying thickening material to said exposed parts resulting in amalgamation between the material to be thickened and the thickening material, shaping the piece of material into its complete form, and plating the entire article to produce a plain efi'ect.

2. In the art of plating, the process for increasing the thickness of a metallic article while in its embryo state before completion consisting of applying a shield to the article with portions of the shield removed at oints corresponding to the greatest points 0 wear of the article, spraying a flux on the article through the openings in the shield, then applying the thickcning'material through said openings resulting in amalgamation between the material to be thickened and the thickening material and finally plating the article wherebythe outer faces of the thickened portions and coating are substantially continuous.

3. In the art of plating, the process for increasing the thickness of a metallic article at restricted areas and wherein said restricted areas comprise smooth and plain surfaces, said process consisting of first applying a flux to the smooth restricted areas, then applying molten metal to the restricted areas resulting in amalgamation between the molten metal and the metallic article and finally plating the entire article whereby the initially thickened portions are substantially continuous with the remaining surface of the article.

WILLIAM HENRY LEGATE. 

